Not all low-carb diets help you lose weight, study warns – here’s what to eat if you’re trying to slim down

NOT all low-carb diets are made the same when it comes to weight loss, a study shows.

Diets that still had some refined carbohydrates or relied on protein from meat actually caused people to pile on the pounds, Harvard University researchers found.

1

Only low-carb diets that emphasised plant-based protein and fats, as well as whole grains, helped people shift the flab, they said.

Lead author Dr Binkai Liu said: “The quality of low carbohydrate diets may play a critical role in modulating long-term weight change. 

“Only low carbohydrate diets that emphasised high-quality protein, fat, and carbohydrates from whole grains and other plant-based foods were associated with less weight gain.”

Around 38 per cent of adults in England are overweight, and a further 26 per cent obese.

Read more on diet

WEIGHTY ISSUE

How to keep on top of your teenager’s diet when all they want to eat is junk

The NHS says obesity costs £6.1billion a year, but the total cost of all linked conditions is believed to be much higher.

Low-carb diets restrict carbohydrates like pasta, bread and sugary foods.

Previous research has suggested diets that do this can help people lose weight and manage blood sugar levels.

The latest study, published in JAMA Network Open, looked at data from more than 123,000 adults to see whether the type of low-carb diet had an effect on weight loss.

Most read in Health

ROCK BOTTOM

I was a high-functioning alcoholic mum on a mission to get messed up

HEART TO HEART

From huffing & puffing to TATT - could your heart be at risk like Max?

BOOZE CURE

Hour-by-hour... how to beat the dreaded festive hangover - from bed to brekkie

BUG BEAR

Brits told NOT to go A&E as major hospitals swamped by 'tidal wave' of flu

Researchers tracked people on low-carb diets that emphasised either meat-based proteins and fats and refined carbs like white bread or plant-based proteins and healthy fats.

Diets were assessed every four years with questionnaires.

Those who ate the fewest refined carbs saw a bigger weight loss and those who ate the most put on the most weight.

The differences were bigger in people who were already obese, researchers said.

Dr Liu said: “We found divergent associations with weight changes in that the low carb diets that emphasise the intake of high-quality macronutrients from healthy plant-based foods were associated with less weight gain.

“Low carb diets that emphasise animal-sourced proteins and fats or refined carbohydrates were associated with more weight gain. 

“These associations were more apparent among younger, heavier, and less active individuals.”